Thill-coupling



(No Model.) A. MGHUGH.

THILL GGUIQLING. y

Patented Deo. 28, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

ALOYSIUS MCHUGH, OF DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

THILL-COUPLING. -f

ySPEGill-"ICA'.IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 35 5,275, dated December 28, 1886.

.Application filed November 3, 1886. Serial No. 217,893. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALoYsIUs MCHUGH, av citizen of the United States, residing at Du Bois, in the county of Clearfield, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Gravity-Locks for Couplings, of which the following is so full, clear, and exact a description as will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichv Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the same, showing it taken apart. Fig. 3 is a modification of same showing the gravity-latch provided with an additional weight on its front portion. Fig. 4 is another modification showing the gravity-latch held in position by a secondary locking device to prevent accidental displacement when the vehicle or other article to which this may be attached is inverted. Fig. 5 is a view of another modification showing the hook portion of the gravity-latch pro` vided with an additional lug or projection which holds in this instance a rubber roll or. sleeve which encircles the tie-bolt which joins the two forked ends of the tang B.

rlhe object of my invention is to construct a coupling which may be quickly and easily operated without the necessity of using a wrench or any device whatever aside from the coupling itself.

Another object of my invention is to proer vide a coupling which will automatically. lock itself as soon as the parts are secu red together.

Another object of'myinvention is to construct a device without screws' or nuts which will be likely to work loose. The device is adapted to be used more as a thill-coupling of vehicles; but it is quite apparent that it may be used for coupling purposes elsewhere, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to its use in a thill-coupling.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the usual bracket-support, which is secured to the axle of a vehicle in the usual manner by bolts or rivets. The front portion of this bracket is provided with a lug which projects upward. It is perforated at a to receive the rivet b, which holds the gravitylatch C in place on the lug on the bracket.` Somewhat back of the perforation a is a projection, c. Directly beneath the perforation c is a slot or recess, c, which is adapted to receive and accommodate the tie-bolt d, which is secured to the bifurcated ends of the tang B. To the rear of this slot c is a projection, d', the front face of which slants diagonally at au angle to correspond with the diagonal slant of the rear portion of the projection c on the bracket A. The gravity-latch C is pivotally secured atc to the front portion of the lug on the bracket A.

It will be observed that the gravitylatch is 6 5 pivoted eccentrically, or out of alignment with u. the center of gravity, which causes it to auto! matically drop to the position shown in Figs. l and 2, where it remains until it is lifted out of place and turned part Way round to release the coupling when it is desired to remove the cross-bolt which joins the two bifurcated ends of the tang'B. This gravity-latchis provided with a recess, b2, the upper face of which eX- tends in a straight line from about one-half 7 lway across the gravity-latch a slight distance to the rear, and then curves up to the top portion of gravity-latch in such a manner that the gravity-latch may be turned completely around by lifting its forward end up, and none of the material of which the gravity-latch is constructed will strike the cross-bolt, which is f secured to the bifurcated ends ofthe tang B. Below the recess in the gravity-latch is a hook, e, which extends down horizontally, and its rear portion, e', engages with the bottom of the slot or cross-bolt which unites the bifurcated ends of the tang B.

From the above it will be observed that when the coupling is locked in position there -will be no liability of accidental displacement of the parts, and the couplings may be nncoupled in a very short space of time with little effort and slight expenditure of physical force, and without the use of other devices-such as wrenches, punches, &c.-to undo couplings.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to couple the two portions together, the cross-bolt on the tang B is pressed against the upper portion of the gravity-latch 10o just to the rear of the' backwardlimit of the projection a on the bracket. Now, by pressing the bolt down the gravity-latch will turn around until the bolt gets into the bottom of the slot into the bracket,when it (the gravitylatch) will then drop into position shown in Fig. 1 as soon as the bolt is down to a sufficient distance to clear the rear portion of the in the bracket, the said shoulder adapted to rest above the cross-bolt of the tang Whenthe parts are in their normal positions, as set forth.

2. In a coupling of the character described, the bracket having an angular slot vertical at the lower and diagonal at its upper or open end, in combination with a gravity-lateh properly curved, and which is adapted to be lifted up and turned round to clearthe crossbolt and tang independent of the movement of the cross-bolt, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above as my invention I have hereunto set my hand in the presence yoi" two subscribingwitnesses.

ALo'Ys'IUs MCHUGH.

Vtnesses: l

W. G. PENTZ, JERRY HAAK. 

